I used to think the following about successful happy researchers in economics:
It's fun for them so they are passionate about it so they work hard so they have success.
Consequently, when research wasn't fun, I immediately began thinking of switching careers and becoming a database programmer or a family therapist or something.
It occurred to me that maybe it goes like this:
Researchers who work hard have success, success is fun, so they are passionate about research.
Our attitudes and behaviors flow from our paradigm. What comes of this new paradigm? If research isn't fun, work harder.
I have done plenty of jobs in my life about which I was not "passionate." That is not to say I wasn't successful at emptying trash cans in the BYU Library at 4am each morning. I know that I can muster the capacity to work even when it isn't fun. So I will work at my research in the same way: doggedly and diligently. My guess is that I will start feeling more successful and it will become fun again.
If I do decide to quit the program, it will be because I am successful at it but not happy. That would be telling. But the fact that I am unsuccessful, behind and unhappy doesn't tell me much about how well this career path suits me.
